Calf Raise vs Pistol Squat
Which one fits your Leg workout plan?
Contents
Planfit users log Calf Raise more often — 1,215 sessions vs 86. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Compare the benefits of Calf Raise and Pistol Squat and pick the one that fits your Leg workout.
Calf Raise vs Pistol Squat: Which Do Planfit Users Choose?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Calf Raise more often — 1,215 sessions compared to 86 for Pistol Squat.
What most people do isn't always what fits you. Calf Raise and Pistol Squat differ in the muscles they work, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Calf Raise and Pistol Squat Differ
| What differs | Calf Raise | Pistol Squat |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | calves, hamstrings, and glutes | quads, hamstrings, and glutes |
| One side at a time | No | Yes |
| Difficulty | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 1,215 sessions | 86 sessions |
How to Do Calf Raise
Calf Raise Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Please raise your heels as high as possible to contract your calf muscles.
- 2. Please hold while resisting the weight, making sure your heels do not touch the ground.
Coach's Tips
- 1. If it is difficult to maintain your balance, support yourself with your hand on a wall or object.
- 2. Since strain may be placed on your ankle or Achilles tendon (the tendon at the back of your calf and heel), do not lower yourself quickly, and if you feel pain, perform the exercise with just your body weight.
For a full Calf Raise guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Calf Raise exercise guide.
How to Do Pistol Squat
Pistol Squat Muscles Worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Lower your leg lifted off the ground until it is parallel to the floor.
- 2. As your hips rise, straighten your knees and hip joints in sequence, and return to the starting position.
- 3. Proceed one side at a time or alternately.
Coach's Tips
- 1. Please be careful not to excessively lean your upper body forward.
- 2. Keep your chest up and engage your core to avoid bending your waist.
- 3. Don't excessively bend your waist while trying to keep it straight.
- 4. Please do not stick your hips too far back.
- 5. Make sure your feet do not come off the ground.
- 6. When standing up, please ensure your knees do not come together.
For a full Pistol Squat guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Pistol Squat exercise guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Calf Raise or Pistol Squat?
Planfit users log Calf Raise more often — 1,215 sessions against 86 for Pistol Squat. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Calf Raise and Pistol Squat work the same muscles?
Not quite. Calf Raise loads calves, hamstrings, and glutes, and Pistol Squat loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes.
What equipment do Calf Raise and Pistol Squat need?
Calf Raise needs bodyweight only, and Pistol Squat needs bodyweight only.
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